Optical dual resonator modulation system and method, and optical dual resonator modulator therefor

ABSTRACT

Described are various embodiments of a dual optical modulator, system and method. In one embodiment, an optical modulator modulates an input optical signal having a designated optical frequency. The modulator comprises first and second tunable modulators operable around the optical frequency and operatively disposed between a bus waveguide path and an opposed waveguide path. The modulator further comprises a relative optical phase-shifter optically coupled between the tunable modulators so to impart a relative optical phase shift between the bus waveguide path and the opposed waveguide path. The tunable modulators are respectively driveable to modulate a respective resonance thereof in complimentary directions relative to the optical frequency and thereby resonantly redirect a selectable portion of the input optical signal along the opposed waveguide path such that the relative optical phase shift is imparted thereto for output. Embodiments of an optical modulation method and an IQ modulator are also described.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to optical modulation systems, and, inparticular, to an optical dual resonator modulation system and method,and an optical dual resonator modulator therefor.

BACKGROUND

There is currently widespread interest in coherent technologies due tothe increasing requirements for transmission-capacity in wavelengthdivision multiplexing (WDM) systems. For instance, coherent opticalfiber communication systems are known to allow for the utilization ofhigh spectral efficiency modulation formats such as multilevelquadrature amplitude modulation or m-ary phase shift keying.

Quadrature (IQ) modulators generally output modulated transmissionsignals on two phase-shifted carrier waves. The two carrier waves areout of phase with each other by 90 and are thus called quadraturecarriers or quadrature components. The modulated waves are summed, andthe final waveform is a combination of both phase-shift keying (PSK) andamplitude-shift keying (ASK). Coherent Quadrature PSK (QPSK) andQuadrature Amplitude Modulators (QAM) are routinely implemented inoptical communication systems using a pair of Mach-Zehnder modulators(MZM), the output of one being phase-shifted 90 degrees relative to theoutput of the other to provide each of the required quadraturecomponents of the combined IQ modulator. Common implementations includeknown travelling wave Mach-Zehnder (TWMZ) modulators

For instance, Mach-Zehnder type modulators are commonly nested in avariety of different material platforms (e.g., InP, GaAs, Si, andLiNbO3) to generate the coherent optical transmission signals incoherent quadrature modulation systems. The existing Mach-Zehnder typemodulators are usually long (e.g., from 5 mm up to a few centimeters)because of the relatively weak electro-optic effect involved, and thusrequire sophisticated traveling-wave designs for high frequencyoperation.

Nested electro-absorption modulators have also been demonstrated togenerate an optical differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK)transmission signal, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,403,670.

While some have proposed the use of a single ring resonator modulator toreplace current Mach-Zehnder modulators to achieve PSK modulation, theproposed implementations suffer several drawbacks, such as relativelyhigh operation losses, nonlinear phase transitions unsuitable forcoherent transmission implementations, and a general unsuitability forhigh-order modulation formats such as 4-PSK and 16QAM. Even forrelatively simple modulation formats like QPSK, in the context of longhaul optical transmission, a linear response of the optical transmitteris vital in order to enable advanced signal processing such aspre-emphasizing and pulse shaping, among others.

This background information is provided to reveal information believedby the applicant to be of possible relevance. No admission isnecessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the precedinginformation constitutes prior art or forms part of the general commonknowledge in the relevant art.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the general inventiveconcept(s) described herein to provide a basic understanding of someaspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview ofthe invention. It is not intended to restrict key or critical elementsof the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention beyond thatwhich is explicitly or implicitly described by the following descriptionand claims.

A need exists for an optical modulation system and method that overcomesome of the drawbacks of known techniques, or at least, provide a usefulalternative thereto. For example, such need exists for a coherentoptical modulation transmission system and method, and modulatortherefor. Some aspects of this disclosure provide examples of suchtransmission signal modulation systems.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided an optical modulatorfor modulating an input optical signal, the modulator comprising: afirst optical resonator comprising an input port for receiving the inputoptical signal, a through port, and a drop port; a second opticalresonator comprising a first input port optically coupled via a buswaveguide path to the through port of the first optical resonator, asecond input port optically coupled via an opposed waveguide path to thedrop port of the first optical resonator, and an output port operable asa through port and a drop port for optical signals received respectivelyat the first and second input ports of the second optical resonator; anda relative optical phase-shifter optically coupled between said firstand second optical resonators so to impart a relative optical phaseshift between said bus waveguide path and said opposed waveguide path.

In some embodiments, at least one of said first and second opticalresonators comprises one of a ring resonator, a distributed Bragggrating resonator, and a photonic crystal resonator. In someembodiments, the first optical resonator comprises a first ringresonator and the second optical resonator comprises a second ringresonator. In some embodiments, each of the first and second ringresonators is a tunable ring resonator, biasable relative to an opticalfrequency of the input optical signal and respectively driveable tovariably shift a respective resonance thereof relative to the opticalfrequency. In some embodiments, the first and second ring resonators areeither: a) of a substantially similar polarity for being driven byanti-correlated RF signals; or b) of substantially reverse polaritiesfor being driven by correlated RF signals. In some embodiments, each ofthe tunable ring resonators comprises a thermal tuner for biasing arespective transmission spectrum offset relative to the opticalfrequency, and a drive tuner for variably shifting the respectivetransmission spectrum relative to the optical frequency. In someembodiments, said relative optical phase-shifter comprises a static180-degree phase shifter. In some embodiments, said relative opticalphase-shifter comprises a phase modulator. Some embodiments furthercomprise a variable optical attenuator optically coupled between saidfirst and second optical resonators along at least one of said buswaveguide path and said opposed waveguide path. In some embodiments, themodulator is arranged to modulate the input optical signal for use in atleast one of a BPSK, QPSK, 8QAM, 16QAM, pure ASK, pure PSK, and higherorder modulation scheme.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided an opticaltransmitter for transmitting an optical signal, the transmittercomprising: a coherent light source for generating an input opticalsignal; an optical modulator comprising a first optical resonator havingan input port for receiving the input optical signal, a through port,and a drop port, a second optical resonator having a first input portoptically coupled via a bus waveguide path to the through port of thefirst optical resonator, a second input port optically coupled via anopposed waveguide path to the drop port of the first optical resonator,and an output port operable as a through port and a drop port foroptical signals received respectively at the first and second inputports of the second optical resonator, and a relative opticalphase-shifter optically coupled between said first and second opticalresonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift between said buswaveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; and a digital signalprocessor for driving the optical modulator.

In some embodiments, each of the first and second optical resonators isa tunable resonator, biasable relative to an optical frequency of theinput optical signal and driveable to variably shift a respectiveresonance thereof relative to the optical frequency. In someembodiments, the coherent light source is tunable, generating awavelength variable input optical signal, and at least one of the firstand second optical resonators is a tunable optical resonator, biasablerelative to a variable optical frequency of the input optical signal anddrivable to variably shift a respective resonance thereof relative tothe optical frequency. In some embodiments, the first and second opticalresonators are either: a) of a substantially similar polarity for beingdriven by anti-correlated RF signals; or b) of substantially reversepolarities for being driven by correlated RF signals. In someembodiments, each of the tunable resonators comprises a thermal tunerfor biasing a respective transmission spectrum offset relative to theoptical frequency, and a drive tuner for variably shifting therespective transmission spectrum relative to the optical frequency. Insome embodiments, the transmitter is arranged to modulate the inputoptical signal for use in at least one of a BPSK, QPSK, 8QAM, 16QAM,pure ASK, pure PSK, and higher order modulation scheme.

In accordance with a further aspect, there is provided a method formodulating an input optical signal of a coherent light source, themethod comprising: receiving at an input port of a first opticalresonator the input optical signal, the first optical resonator having athrough port optically coupled via a bus waveguide path to a first inputport of a second optical resonator, the first optical resonator having adrop port optically coupled via an opposed waveguide path to a secondinput port of the second optical resonator, a relative opticalphase-shifter optically coupled between said first and second opticalresonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift between said buswaveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; combining an opticalsignal which comprises a first portion of the input optical signal whichpasses through the through port of the first optical resonator and anoutput port of the second resonator acting as a through port and asecond portion of the input optical signal which passes through the dropport of the first optical resonator and the output port of the secondresonator acting as a drop port; modulating at least one of a wavelengthof the input optical signal, a transmission spectrum of the firstoptical resonator, and a transmission spectrum of the second opticalresonator, such that a wavelength difference between the wavelength ofthe input optical signal and a wavelength of a resonant peak of thetransmission spectrum of the first optical resonator is the samemagnitude and the opposite sign of a wavelength difference between thewavelength of the input optical signal and a wavelength of a resonantpeak of the transmission spectrum of the second optical resonator.

In accordance with yet another aspect, there is provided a method formodulating an input optical signal of a coherent light source opticallycoupled through a first optical resonator and a second optical resonatorto an optical output, the method comprising: modulating at least one ofa wavelength of the input optical signal, a transmission spectrum of thefirst optical resonator, and a transmission spectrum of the secondoptical resonator, such that a first wavelength difference between thewavelength of the input optical signal and a wavelength of a resonantpeak of the transmission spectrum of the first optical resonator is thesame magnitude and the opposite sign of a second wavelength differencebetween the wavelength of the input optical signal and a wavelength of aresonant peak of the transmission spectrum of the second opticalresonator.

In accordance with another further aspect, there is provided an opticalcommunication system, the system comprising: a coherent light source forgenerating an input optical signal; an optical modulator comprising afirst optical resonator having an input port for receiving the inputoptical signal, a through port, and a drop port, a second opticalresonator having a first input port optically coupled via a buswaveguide path to the through port of the first optical resonator, asecond input port optically coupled via an opposed waveguide path to thedrop port of the first optical resonator, and an output port operable asa through port and a drop port for optical signals received respectivelyat the first and second input ports of the second optical resonator, anda relative optical phase-shifter optically coupled between said firstand second optical resonators so to impart a relative optical phaseshift between said bus waveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; adigital signal processor for driving the modulator; an optical fiberoptically coupled to the output port of the second resonator and aninput port of an optical receiver.

In accordance with yet a further aspect, there is provided an IQmodulator comprising a first and a second optical modulator as definedabove and having respective modulator outputs, and a 90-degree opticalphase shifter optically coupled at one of said respective modulatoroutputs so to impart a relative 90-degree phase shift therebetweenbefore said respective outputs are combined into an IQ modulated output.

Other aspects, features and/or advantages will become more apparent uponreading of the following non-restrictive description of specificembodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the present disclosure will be provided, by wayof examples only, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an optical dual ring modulator, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows two juxtaposed plots (A and B) illustrating opposed biasesapplied to respective optical ring modulators in achieving complimentaryring resonance shifts.

FIG. 3A illustrates a transmission spectrum of a typical resonator atits through port.

FIG. 3B illustrates a transmission spectrum of a typical resonator atits drop port.

FIG. 4A is a complex plane plot of an output optical signal of the dualring modulator of FIG. 1, showing a substantially linear variationthereof between a “−1” state and a “1” state on the complex plane as afunction of varying differential RF drive voltages applied to respectivering resonators of the modulator, achieving binary phase shift keying(BPSK) modulation.

FIG. 4B is a complex plane plot illustrating the constellation of BPSKmodulation of the dual ring modulator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an optical dual ring modulator, inaccordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an IQ modulator consisting of a pair ofoptical dual ring modulators, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a complex plane plot illustrating the constellation ofquadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation of the IQ modulatorembodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a generic dual resonator opticalmodulator in accordance with a further embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an optical link utilizing a dual resonator modulatorlinearly driven according to a further embodiment, and

FIG. 10 illustrates a further optical link utilizing a dual resonatormodulator utilizing a limiting driver according to a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The systems and methods described herein provide, in accordance withdifferent embodiments, different examples in which a pair of opticalmodulators can be interconnected and operated so as to generate acoherently modulated optical signal. As will be described in greaterdetail below, the dual modulator can be operated to produce a relativelylinear transition in the complex plane as a function of drive voltagethereby allowing for the controlled generation of discrete coherentmodulation states, which controlled behavior is desirable in theformation of respective quadrature components in an IQ modulator, forexample. Consequently, the concurrent and 90 degree phase-shiftedimplementation of parallel dual ring modulators as described herein maybe used as an IQ modulator, thus providing an alternative to standardMZM implementations.

With reference to FIG. 1, and in accordance with one embodiment, anoptical dual ring modulator, generally referred to using the numeral100, will now be described. In this particular example, the modulator100 acts on an input optical signal having a designated opticalfrequency, and generally comprises first and second tunable ringmodulators 110, 112 operable around the optical frequency and jointlydefining sequential ring waveguides 120, 121 interposed between a buswaveguide path 128 and an opposed waveguide path 126.

The modulator 100 further comprises one or more components 114 opticallycoupled between the tunable ring modulators 110, 112 along a continuouswaveguide 115 so to impart a relative optical phase shift between thebus waveguide path (indicated by dotted line 128) and the opposedwaveguide path (indicated by dashed line 126). In this embodiment, astatic 180-degree phase shift is applied between the modulators 110, 112along the opposed waveguide path 126. In this embodiment, one or morecomponents 114 is a static phase shifter which introduces the 180-degreephase shift with use of a fixed waveguide having the appropriatedimensions. As will be described in greater detail below, further phaseand amplitude modulation components, fixed or tunable, may be integratedwithin this fundamental design to achieve greater signal modulationcontrol and complexity.

In this example, the ring modulators 110, 112 are respectively driveablevia respective drive voltages 122, 124 to modulate a respectiveresonance thereof in complimentary directions relative to the opticalfrequency and thereby resonantly redirect a selectable portion of theinput optical signal along the opposed waveguide path 126 between thering modulators 110, 112 such that the relative optical phase shift isimparted to this portion before being returned to the bus waveguide pathfor output at 150.

As can be seen, in this particular embodiment, and in those describedbelow with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a common modulator output 150 isprovided as output for each of the bus waveguide path and the opposedwaveguide path.

As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the bus waveguide path128 may consist of a single bus waveguide 113 to relay for output 150 aportion of the input optical signal modulated by the ‘through’ port ofthe ring modulators 120, 121. Likewise, the opposed waveguide path 126between the ring modulators 110, 112 may consist of a continuouswaveguide 115 relaying the redirected portion of the input opticalsignal modulated by the ‘drop’ port of ring modulators 120 and 121.

In the exemplary embodiment and modulator output results consideredbelow, each ring modulator was designed to exhibit a tunability ofapproximately 30 pm/V, a radius of approximately 10 μm, and a Q value of4500 to 5000, for example. The latter, which generally provides ameasure of the ring resonance profile width, was deemed appropriate forbandwidth characteristics around 23 GHz, though other parameters andbandwidth characteristics may readily apply without departing from thegeneral scope and nature of the present disclosure. The exemplary ringmodulators were each based on a reverse-biased pn junction to providehigh-speed modulation capability, and said modulators were tuned byintegrated thermal tuners both to generally align the resonantwavelength to the input optical signal and also to bias the resonancepeak of each resonator's transmission spectrum in such a way that thetransmission peak of one resonator is at a longer wavelength than theinput optical signal, and the transmission peak of the other resonatoris at a shorter wavelength than that of the input optical signal. Othertypes of modulation mechanisms may also be considered, as will beappreciated by the skilled artisan, such as, but not limited to,leveraging the electro-optic effect of Silicon or a PIN injectionmodulator, for example. Generally, the rings were operated at criticalor near-critical coupling, and back reflections were minimized.

In the exemplary implementation discussed below, each ring resonator wasdriven by a respective RF signal ranging between −0.4 V and 1.6 V. Givenidentical ring polarities, a differential drive mechanism was employed,whereby the first RF drive signal was applied between −0.4 V and 1.6 Vas the second RF drive signal was concurrently applied between 1.6 V and−0.4 V. By inverting the polarity of the second ring resonator 112relative to the first ring resonator 110, the differential drivemechanism could be eliminated. For example, the polarity of the implantscould be reversed in one of the rings (i.e. Exchange p and n implants),which would allow the same drive voltage to be applied to both rings. Itis here assumed that both rings have the proper DC bias voltagesupplied, through the equivalent of a DC bias tee for example, such thatthe voltage ranges required for proper ring operation are excited by theinput modulator voltage.

To achieve desired results, the otherwise identical ring resonators areoppositely biased as shown in FIG. 2, where plot A identifies theoptical spectrum of the first ring modulator 110, whereas plot Bidentifies the optical spectrum of the second ring modulator 112. Thevertical line indicates the wavelength of the input signal. As can beseen, a complimentary resonance shift is produced between modulator 110and 112, i.e., the spectral transmittance of the two ring modulatorsshift to opposite directions relative to the input optical frequency.These complementary shifts include two contributions, shifts due to astatic offset or biasing as well as shifts due to varying the drivevoltage.

The static offset or bias is introduced so that when a same drivevoltage magnitude is applied to both resonators, resonance peaks of thespectral transmittance of the two resonators are offset equally toopposite directions from the input optical signal wavelength. Thisstatic offset can be achieved with tunable elements such as the thermaltuners mentioned below which can be adjusted slowly to ensure the properoffset or by static and passive optical elements as known in the artwhich have undergone, for example, a precise dimension controlfabrication process or post-process trimming. In order to maintain aproper offset under changing conditions, optical taps and/orphotodetectors (not shown) may be utilized at any number of variouslocations to measure optical signals after passage through theresonators in order to keep the resonators biased up to the properlevel. For example, drifting transmission spectra resulting from changesin temperature can be detected with taps or photodetectors at the outputports of each resonator, and compensated for by appropriate biasing.

By varying corresponding drive signal amplitudes to each ring resonator,a respective resonance thereof can be driven to approach and divergefrom critical resonance with the input optical frequency from oppositedirections on the rings' otherwise substantially identical spectralresonance curves. Although not shown explicitly in FIG. 2, it should benoted that the actual effect on the signals emerging from the resonatorsis more than simply a change in magnitude. Signals are modifiedaccording to a complex coefficient. It can be shown that the coefficientencountered by a signal on one side of the resonant wavelength is thecomplex conjugate of the coefficient encountered equidistant inwavelength and on the other side of the resonant wavelength. By drivingthe second resonator so that its resonant wavelength is equidistant andon the opposite side of the input optical signal frequency as theresonant wavelength of the first resonator, described in more detailbelow, the output, being a function of the product of the two, willremain on the real axis, and hence linear in the complex plane.

As noted above, ring modulators generally exhibit undesirable non-lineartransitions at or near resonance as a function of applied voltage, thusmaking them generally unsuitable for coherent modulation transmissionsystems. However, by operating oppositely biased ring resonators viacomplimentary drive signals, as in the embodiments illustrated herein,the undesirable non-linear nature of these ring resonators can besufficiently suppressed to produce a substantially linear response inthe complex plane as a function of applied voltage.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3A and 3B this linear response is describedwith reference to the typical optical response spectra of the throughand drop ports of an optical resonator such as the ring resonators ofFIG. 1. Given an input optical signal at an input port 110 a of thefirst resonator 110, the portion of the optical signal which proceedsfrom a through port 110 b of the first resonator 110 and along the buswaveguide path 128, exhibits an optical transmission spectra asillustrated in FIG. 3A. It should be noted that FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrates the typical response of any optical resonator and not justthe ring resonators of FIG. 1. Given the input optical signal at theinput port 110 a of the first resonator 110, the waveguide 115 where itemerges from the resonator 110 functions as a drop port 110 c, and theoptical signals proceeding through the continuous waveguide 115 on theopposed path 126 exhibit the transmission spectra illustrated in FIG.3B.

Given the optical signal at an opposed input port 112 d of the secondresonator 112 where the waveguide 115 merges with the second resonator112, an output 112 b of the second resonator 112 functions as a dropport. A portion of the optical signals proceeding through the continuouswaveguide 115 on the opposed path 126 undergoes a second opticaltransformation according to the transmission spectra illustrated in FIG.3B but being the complex conjugate of that encountered at the firstresonator 110. The portion of the signals output at the resonator output150 which traversed opposed waveguide path 126, therefore, are realvalued.

Given the optical signal at a bus input port 112 a of the secondresonator 112 where the bus waveguide 113 merges with the secondresonator 112, the output 112 b of the second resonator 112 functions asa through port. A portion of the optical signals proceeding through thebus waveguide 113 on the bus waveguide path 126 undergoes a secondoptical transformation according to the transmission spectra illustratedin FIG. 3A but being the complex conjugate of that encountered at thefirst resonator 110. The portion of the signals output at the resonatoroutput 150 which traversed bus waveguide path 127, therefore, are realvalued.

The total output at 150 includes a superposition of signals which arereal valued, and are thus also in the real axis and linear in thecomplex plane.

Accordingly, by applying complimentary RF drive signals to the dual ringmodulator, for example, the modulator output can be linearly modulatedbetween “−1”, “0” and “1” states. Namely, and with reference to FIG. 4A,operation of the dual ring modulator, as described and characterizedabove, at ˜0.1V drive voltage increments between −0.4 and 1.6V for thefirst ring 110, and 1.6V and −0.4V for the second ring 112, resulted ina modulated signal output that varies substantially linearly across thecomplex plane to define “−1”, “0” and “1” states. For instance, a “−1”state may be defined by a condition in which a predominant portion ofthe input optical signal travels substantially unperturbed by the ringwaveguides 120, 121 along the bus waveguide path 128, namely where arespective ring resonance offset is maximized relative to the inputoptical frequency. Conversely, by driving the respective ring resonators110, 112 to substantially align the a resonance thereof with the inputoptical frequency, a maximal portion of the input optical signal isredirected by the resonant ring waveguides 120, 121 along the opposedwaveguide path 126, to which a static 180 degree phase shift (in anidealized configuration) may be imparted relative to the bus waveguidepath in defining the “1” state. Finally, a “0” state may be linearlyachieved at an intermediate resonance offset where substantiallyequivalent portions of the input optical signal travel along each of thebus and opposed waveguide paths. Accordingly, such operation may beapplied to form one of the quadrature components of an IQ modulator, asnoted above. FIG. 4B illustrates a similar plot in the context of aconstellation of BPSK modulation produced by the dual ring modulator.

The Table below provides an illustrative set of operatingcharacteristics for the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 and characterizedby the above ring parameters. Namely, respective drive voltages areidentified for the first and second ring modulators for each of theresulting “1”, “0” and “−1” states. A measure of the combined operatingand static output losses as compared to input is also provided for eachof these states. The person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethe high “loss” expected for the “0” state as it should in factrepresent a zero output. It is rather the power at the “1” and “−1”states that determine insertion loss.

V1 V2 Loss compared State (first ring) (second ring) to input (dB) “1”−0.4 1.6 −14.0 “0” 0.6 0.6 −25.7 “−1”   1.6 −0.4 −14.0

While the operating regime of the illustrative implementation describedherein was not perfectly balanced to be centered on 0 in this exemplaryimplementation, one would predictively expect a balanced value toachieve an overall combined static and operation loss of approximately14 dB for the “1” and “−1” states. In comparison, current TWMZmodulators commonly exhibit combined operation and static losses around17.4 dB.

With reference to FIG. 5, and in accordance with another embodiment, anoptical dual ring modulator, generally referred to using the numeral500, will now be described. In this particular example, the modulator500 again acts on an input optical signal having a designated opticalfrequency, and generally comprises first and second tunable ringmodulators 510, 512 operable around the optical frequency and jointlydefining sequential ring waveguides 520, 521 interposed between a buswaveguide path 528 and an opposed waveguide path 526.

In this embodiment, each of the bus and opposed waveguide paths comprisea respective variable amplitude attenuator (VOA) 538, 534 and arespective phase shifter in the form of a tunable phase modulator (ΔΦ)540, 536, which enable the optical phase and intensity to be controlledalong each path such that the most favorable interference between thetwo rings is achieved. This can further allow an increase in outputlinearity along the complex plane as a function of the RF drive voltage.

In this example, a further phase modulator 542 is provided at themodulator output to ensure a consistent alignment of the modulatoroutput along a desired axis in the complex plane, for example, in theprovision of a given quadrature component for an IQ modulator (i.e.output state variations confined to the real or imaginary axis of thecomplex plane).

Once again, the ring modulators 510, 512 are respectively driveable viarespective drive voltages 522, 524 to modulate a respective resonancethereof in complimentary directions relative to the input opticalfrequency and thereby resonantly redirect a selectable portion of theinput optical signal away from the bus waveguide path 528 and the buswaveguide 513 and along the opposed waveguide path 526 throughcontinuous waveguide 515. Further respective thermal tuners 530, 532 arealso provided in this example to adjust a general tuning of each ringmodulator 510, 512, namely to perform a static (i.e. slower) tuning ofthe modulators as a function of an applied temperature 544, 546 to shifta resonance of the rings in a range of the designated input opticalfrequency in question, upon which a faster modulation may be applied viathe applied RF voltages 522, 524. For instance, the presence of thethermal tuner allows the location of the resonance peak of the rings tobe tuned across a wide range at slow speed, which is helpful in properlybiasing the rings. Other slow tuners, such as a PIN injection modulator,could also be used, for example.

It should be understood from the above described embodiments discussedin connection with FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4 b, that the dualresonator modulator can be utilized for pure ASK and pure PSK modulationas long as the resonator, variable amplitude attenuator, and/or tunablephase shifter are driven in concert to achieve the desired type andorder of ASK or PSK.

With reference to FIG. 6, and in accordance with one embodiment, an IQmodulator 600 is illustrated to split a source laser input 602 between apair of optical dual ring modulators 604 and 606 as described above, therespective output signals of which being phase-shifted by 90 degrees(608) to produce each quadrature component of the combined IQ modulatoroutput 610. Such an IQ modulator 600 can be utilized for QPSKmodulation, a constellation of which is illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a plot in the complex plane of a constellation ofQPSK modulation produced by the IQ modulator described in connectionwith FIG. 6. It should be understood by extension from this example thatmultiple dual resonators may be utilized in various combinations toachieve higher order modulation schemes such as 8QAM, 16QAM, etc.

With reference to FIG. 8, and in accordance with a further embodiment,an optical dual modulator, generally referred to using the numeral 800,will now be described. In this particular example, the modulator 800acts on an input optical signal having a designated optical frequency,and generally comprises first and second tunable optical modulators 810,812 operable around the optical frequency and coupled together by a buswaveguide path 828 and an opposed waveguide path 826. The firstmodulator has an input port 810 a, a through port 810 b, and a drop port810 c. The second modulator has a bus input port 812 a, an opposed inputport 812 d, a dump port 812 c, and an output port 812 b which functionsas a through port in respect of signals input over the bus input port812 a and also functions also as a drop port in respect of signals inputover the opposed input port 812 d.

The modulator 800 further comprises one or more components 814 opticallycoupled between the tunable optical modulators 810, 812 along acontinuous waveguide 815 so to impart a relative optical phase shiftbetween the bus waveguide path (indicated by dotted line 828) and theopposed waveguide path (indicated by dashed line 826). In thisembodiment, a static 180-degree phase shift is applied between themodulators 810, 812 along the opposed waveguide path 826. As describedhereinabove, one or more components 814 may achieve phase shifting withuse of a static or passive phase shifter or an active tunable phaseshifter.

In this example, the optical modulators 810, 812 are respectivelydriveable via respective drive voltages 822, 824 to modulate arespective resonance thereof in complimentary directions relative to theinput optical signal frequency and thereby resonantly redirect aselectable portion of the input optical signal along the opposedwaveguide path 826 between the optical modulators 810, 812 such that therelative optical phase shift is imparted to this portion before beingreturned to the bus waveguide path for output at 850.

As can be seen, in this particular embodiment, as with the otherembodiments hereinabove, a common modulator output 850 is provided asoutput for each of the bus waveguide path and the opposed waveguidepath.

As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, the modulator 800functions substantially the same as the dual ring modulator 100described hereinabove. Since the transmission spectra of opticalmodulators is similar for any number of optical modulators, both fortheir drop ports as illustrated in FIG. 3A and their through ports asillustrated in FIG. 3B, driving two identical resonators so that theirresonant wavelengths are on opposite sides of the input opticalfrequency in opposite directions creates an output signal advantageouslyin the real axis as described above.

It is to be understood that the first and second optical resonators 810,812 could be based on ring modulators, disc modulators, distributedBragg grating resonators, photonic crystal resonators, or any othersimilar or generic optical resonator which exhibits similar responsespectra, can be driven so such that their resonant wavelengths are oneither side of the input optical wavelength, and can be configured tofunction with one or two input ports as described hereinabove.

In one embodiment, the resonators, which may be rings or otherstructures, are driven in a complimentary fashion as follows: If the tworesonators are constructed such that both have the same polarity,meaning that positive RF drive voltage shifts the resonance peak towardslonger wavelengths, then the RF signal provided to each resonator shouldbe anti-correlated. When one resonator is being driven to high voltage,the other would be driven to low voltage, and vice versa. Thisaccomplishes the goal of shifting the resonance peak of one resonatortoward longer wavelengths, and the resonance peak of the other resonatortoward shorter wavelengths. In an alternative embodiment, the resonatorscould be constructed such that the same polarity of RF drive voltagecould be supplied to both resonators, but their resonance shifts wouldbe anti-correlated. This could be accomplished for instance by alteringthe arrangement of doping between the first and the second resonators;by reversing the doping polarity, for instance, the same voltage coulddrive the resonance of one resonator toward longer wavelengths and theother toward shorter wavelengths.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an optical link 900 utilizing a tunable laser912 and a dual resonator modulator 910 linearly driven according to afurther embodiment will now be described. The dual resonator modulator910 accepts an input optical signal from a tunable laser 912 to which itis optically coupled. The output of the dual resonator modulator 910 iscoupled to an optical fiber 920 utilized for the optical link 900. Themodulator driver 914 provides electrical signals to modulate the dualresonator modulator 910 as described herein and in response to signalsreceived from the data source 916 after their having been processed bydigital signal processor 917. In FIG. 9, the modulator driver 914 drivesthe dual resonator modulator 910 in a linear fashion in response to thelinear signal processing by the digital signal processor 917 of the datareceived from the data source 916. In some embodiments the modulatordriver 914 drives the dual resonator modulator 910 as described above toensure linearity and output on the real axis. A control circuitry 918 iselectrically coupled to the dual resonator modulator to monitor andcontrol biasing and other aspects of the operation of the dual resonatormodulator 910. Modulated optical signals traverse the optical fiber 920and are received at an optical receiver 922 which converts the opticalsignals to electrical signals which are processed by a digital signalprocessor 924.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9, and generally in any embodimentutilizing a tunable laser and a dual resonator modulator according to anembodiment, the technique of driving two resonators in complimentaryfashion as described hereinabove is modified to the extent the tunablelaser is utilized in cooperation with the resonator modulator to achievesubstantially the same results. For example, instead of driving eachresonator so that its transmission spectra are biased and driven inopposite directions about the wavelength of the optical signal producedby the laser, some embodiments include a fixed resonator and a tunableresonator. In those embodiments the tunable laser may be driven on oneside of the resonance peak of the transmission spectra of the fixedresonator, while the tunable resonator would be driven such that thewavelength of the optical signal produced by the tunable laser remainson the opposite side of the resonance peak of its transmission spectra,and driven in a complimentary fashion taking into account that thetunable laser is not producing an optical signal with a fixedwavelength.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an optical link 1000 utilizing a tunable laser1012 and a dual resonator modulator 1010 driven utilizing a limitingdriver according to a further embodiment will now be described. The dualresonator modulator 1010 accepts an input optical signal from a tunablelaser 1012 to which it is optically coupled. The output of the dualresonator modulator 1010 is coupled to an optical fiber 1020 utilizedfor the optical link 1000. The modulator driver 1014 provides electricalsignals to modulate the dual resonator modulator 1010 as describedherein and in response to signals received from the data source 1016. InFIG. 10, the modulator driver 1014 drives the dual resonator modulator1010 in a limiting driver fashion directly in response to the datareceived from the data source 1016. In some embodiments the modulatordriver 1014 drives the dual resonator modulator 1010 as described aboveso as to achieve improved linearity. A control circuitry 1018 iselectrically coupled to the dual resonator modulator 1010 to monitor andcontrol biasing and other aspects of the operation of the dual resonatormodulator 1010. Modulated optical signals traverse the optical fiber1020 and are received at an optical receiver 1022 which converts theoptical signals to electrical signals which are processed by a digitalsignal processor 1024.

As will be understood by skilled persons in the art, tunable opticalresonators according to the embodiments described, are driven so thattheir transmission spectra and in particular resonance peaks thereof aretunable. Generally speaking resonators can be tuned by any combinationof tuning techniques which achieve shifting of their resonance peaksincluding thermal tuning and carrier-injection tuning techniques whichare well suited for relatively slow biasing, carrier-depletion tuningtechniques well suited for controlling relatively fast modulation, andhybrid material techniques for tuning including polymer based (fast) andliquid crystal based (slow) tuning.

As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, implementation of amodulators as considered herein in accordance with some embodiments mayprovide for a coherent modulation transmission system that exhibitslower insertion losses as compared to known techniques, that has a muchsmaller size on chip, and that may require significantly less drivepower to operate. Improved optical signal to noise ratios (OSNR) mayalso be expected. These features may be particularly attractive in themanufacture of products involving coherent transmissions, such as, butnot limited to, transceivers or transmitters that generate BPSK or QPSKmodulation formats, or the like.

As introduced above, one of the current challenges in known coherenttransmission systems involves the relatively high insertion loss and/ormodulator drive power involved in the operation of the Mach-Zehndermodulators common in those systems, not to mention the relatively largearea of the die consumed for such implementations. In comparison, someembodiments as described herein can potentially significantly reduceinsertion losses and power requirements, and also result in a systemwith a relatively small die footprint. For example, in accordance withsome embodiments, contemplated ring modulators can typically be realizedwith geometries having a radius 10 μm or less, which translates in amuch smaller modulation system footprint than what may otherwise berequired for the implementation of a traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder (TWMZ)modulator that can be 3 mm or longer. As the length of the modulationjunction can thus be vastly reduced, so can the RF power consumption becomparatively reduced.

Further, given the dual ring modulator designs contemplated herein thatinvoke complimentary portions of the rings' resonance curve to modulatean input optical signal, a substantially linear path can be maintainedthrough the output optical complex plane, namely by providing a solutionto the otherwise non-linear variations exhibited by such ring modulatorsnear resonance which heretofore has rendered use of such modulatorsunfavourable for coherent implementations.

Although the above has described dual resonator modulators in thecontext of applications which benefit from improved linearity, it shouldbe understood that the dual resonator modulators described herein may bedriven and/or biased according to the requirements of otherapplications, and therefore nonlinear operation of the dual resonatormodulators is also contemplated.

Although the above has described specific modulator embodiments in whichthe pair of ring or other resonators are identical, it is to beunderstood that a modulator's resonators need not be identical to eachother. Pairings of sufficiently similarly functioning resonators arecontemplated as long as they have sufficiently similar resonance spectrawhich can tuned about the wavelength of the input optical signal in themanner described above.

While the present disclosure describes various exemplary embodiments,the disclosure is not so limited. To the contrary, the disclosure isintended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangementsincluded within the general scope of the present disclosure.

We claim:
 1. An optical modulator for modulating an input opticalsignal, the modulator comprising: a first optical resonator comprisingan input port for receiving the input optical signal, a through port,and a drop port; a bus waveguide path optically coupled to the throughport; an opposed waveguide path optically coupled to the drop port; asecond optical resonator comprising: a first input port opticallycoupled via the bus waveguide path to the through port of the firstoptical resonator, a second input port optically coupled via the opposedwaveguide path to the drop port of the first optical resonator, and anoutput port operable as a through port and a drop port for opticalsignals received respectively at the first and second input ports of thesecond optical resonator; and a relative optical phase-shifter opticallycoupled between said first and second optical resonators so to impart arelative optical phase shift between said bus waveguide path and saidopposed waveguide path.
 2. The modulator of claim 1, wherein at leastone of said first and second optical resonators comprises one of a ringresonator, a distributed Bragg grating resonator, and a photonic crystalresonator.
 3. The modulator of claim 1, wherein the first opticalresonator comprises a first ring resonator and the second opticalresonator comprises a second ring resonator.
 4. The modulator of claim1, wherein said relative optical phase-shifter comprises a static180-degree phase shifter.
 5. The modulator of claim 1, wherein saidrelative optical phase-shifter comprises a phase modulator.
 6. Themodulator of claim 1, further comprising a variable optical attenuatoroptically coupled between said first and second optical resonators alongat least one of said bus waveguide path and said opposed waveguide path.7. The modulator of claim 1 arranged to modulate the input opticalsignal for use in at least one of a BPSK, QPSK, 8QAM, 16QAM, pure ASK,pure PSK, and higher order modulation scheme.
 8. An optical modulatorfor modulating an input optical signal, the modulator comprising: afirst optical resonator comprising an input port for receiving the inputoptical signal, a through port, and a drop port; a second opticalresonator comprising: a first input port optically coupled via the buswaveguide path to the through port of the first optical resonator, asecond input port optically coupled via the opposed waveguide path tothe drop port of the first optical resonator, and an output portoperable as a through port and a drop port for optical signals receivedrespectively at the first and second input ports of the second opticalresonator; and a relative optical phase-shifter optically coupledbetween said first and second optical resonators so to impart a relativeoptical phase shift between said bus waveguide path and said opposedwaveguide path, wherein the first optical resonator comprises a firstring resonator and the second optical resonator comprises a second ringresonator, and wherein each of the first and second ring resonators is atunable ring resonator, biasable relative to an optical frequency of theinput optical signal and respectively driveable to variably shift arespective resonance thereof relative to the optical frequency.
 9. Themodulator of claim 8, wherein the first and second ring resonators areeither: a) of a substantially similar polarity for being driven byanti-correlated RF signals; or b) of substantially reverse polaritiesfor being driven by correlated RF signals.
 10. The modulator of claim 8,wherein each of the tunable ring resonators comprises a thermal tunerfor biasing a respective transmission spectrum offset relative to theoptical frequency, and a drive tuner for variably shifting therespective transmission spectrum relative to the optical frequency. 11.An optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal, thetransmitter comprising: a coherent light source for generating an inputoptical signal; an optical modulator comprising: a first opticalresonator having an input port for receiving the input optical signal, athrough port, and a drop port, a bus waveguide path optically coupled tothe through port; an opposed waveguide path optically coupled to thedrop port; a second optical resonator comprising: a first input portoptically coupled via the bus waveguide path to the through port of thefirst optical resonator, a second input port optically coupled via theopposed waveguide path to the drop port of the first optical resonator,and an output port operable as a through port and a drop port foroptical signals received respectively at the first and second inputports of the second optical resonator, and a relative opticalphase-shifter optically coupled between said first and second opticalresonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift between said buswaveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; and a digital signalprocessor for driving the optical modulator.
 12. The transmitter ofclaim 11, wherein at least one of said first and second opticalresonators comprises one of a ring resonator, a distributed Bragggrating resonator, and a photonic crystal resonator.
 13. The transmitterof claim 11, wherein said relative optical phase-shifter comprises astatic 180-degree phase shifter.
 14. The transmitter of claim 11,wherein said relative optical phase-shifter comprises a phase modulator.15. The transmitter of claim 11, further comprising a variable opticalattenuator optically coupled between said first and second opticalresonators along at least one of said bus waveguide path and saidopposed waveguide path.
 16. The transmitter of claim 11 arranged tomodulate the input optical signal for use in at least one of a BPSK,QPSK, 8QAM, 16QAM, pure ASK, pure PSK, and higher order modulationscheme.
 17. An optical transmitter for transmitting an optical signal,the transmitter comprising: a coherent light source for generating aninput optical signal; an optical modulator comprising: a first opticalresonator having an input port for receiving the input optical signal, athrough port, and a drop port, a second optical resonator comprising: afirst input port optically coupled via the bus waveguide path to thethrough port of the first optical resonator, a second input portoptically coupled via the opposed waveguide path to the drop port of thefirst optical resonator, and an output port operable as a through portand a drop port for optical signals received respectively at the firstand second input ports of the second optical resonator, and a relativeoptical phase-shifter optically coupled between said first and secondoptical resonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift betweensaid bus waveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; and a digitalsignal processor for driving the optical modulator, wherein each of thefirst and second optical resonators is a tunable resonator, biasablerelative to an optical frequency of the input optical signal anddriveable to variably shift a respective resonance thereof relative tothe optical frequency.
 18. The transmitter of claim 17, wherein thefirst and second optical resonators are either: a) of a substantiallysimilar polarity for being driven by anti-correlated RF signals; or b)of substantially reverse polarities for being driven by correlated RFsignals.
 19. The transmitter of claim 17, wherein each of the tunableresonators comprises a thermal tuner for biasing a respectivetransmission spectrum offset relative to the optical frequency, and adrive tuner for variably shifting the respective transmission spectrumrelative to the optical frequency.
 20. An optical transmitter fortransmitting an optical signal, the transmitter comprising: a coherentlight source for generating an input optical signal; an opticalmodulator comprising: a first optical resonator having an input port forreceiving the input optical signal, a through port, and a drop port, asecond optical resonator comprising: a first input port opticallycoupled via the bus waveguide path to the through port of the firstoptical resonator, a second input port optically coupled via the opposedwaveguide path to the drop port of the first optical resonator, and anoutput port operable as a through port and a drop port for opticalsignals received respectively at the first and second input ports of thesecond optical resonator, and a relative optical phase-shifter opticallycoupled between said first and second optical resonators so to impart arelative optical phase shift between said bus waveguide path and saidopposed waveguide path; and a digital signal processor for driving theoptical modulator, wherein the coherent light source is tunable,generating a wavelength variable input optical signal, and at least oneof the first and second optical resonators is a tunable opticalresonator, biasable relative to a variable optical frequency of theinput optical signal and drivable to variably shift a respectiveresonance thereof relative to the optical frequency.
 21. A method formodulating an input optical signal of a coherent light source, themethod comprising: receiving the input optical signal at an input portof a first optical resonator of an optical modulator, the opticalmodulator comprising: a first optical resonator, a second opticalresonator, a bus waveguide path, and an opposed waveguide path; whereina through port of the first optical resonator is optically coupled viathe bus waveguide path to a first input port of the second opticalresonator, wherein a drop port of the first optical resonator isoptically coupled via the opposed waveguide path to a second input portof the second optical resonator, and wherein a relative opticalphase-shifter is optically coupled between said first and second opticalresonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift between said buswaveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; combining an opticalsignal which comprises a first portion of the input optical signal,which passes through the through port of the first optical resonator andan output port of the second resonator acting as a through port, and asecond portion of the input optical signal which passes through the dropport of the first optical resonator and the output port of the secondresonator acting as a drop port; modulating at least one of a wavelengthof the input optical signal, a transmission spectrum of the firstoptical resonator, and a transmission spectrum of the second opticalresonator, such that a wavelength difference between the wavelength ofthe input optical signal and a wavelength of a resonant peak of thetransmission spectrum of the first optical resonator is the samemagnitude and the opposite sign of a wavelength difference between thewavelength of the input optical signal and a wavelength of a resonantpeak of the transmission spectrum of the second optical resonator.
 22. Amethod for modulating an input optical signal of a coherent light sourceoptically coupled through a first optical resonator and a second opticalresonator to an optical output, the method comprising: modulating atleast one of a wavelength of the input optical signal, a transmissionspectrum of the first optical resonator, and a transmission spectrum ofthe second optical resonator, such that a first wavelength differencebetween the wavelength of the input optical signal and a wavelength of aresonant peak of the transmission spectrum of the first opticalresonator is the same magnitude and the opposite sign of a secondwavelength difference between the wavelength of the input optical signaland a wavelength of a resonant peak of the transmission spectrum of thesecond optical resonator.
 23. An optical communication system, thesystem comprising: a coherent light source for generating an inputoptical signal; an optical modulator comprising: a first opticalresonator having an input port for receiving the input optical signal, athrough port, and a drop port, a bus waveguide path optically coupled tothe through port; an opposed waveguide path optically coupled to thedrop port; a second optical resonator having a first input portoptically coupled via the bus waveguide path to the through port of thefirst optical resonator, a second input port optically coupled via theopposed waveguide path to the drop port of the first optical resonator,and an output port operable as a through port and a drop port foroptical signals received respectively at the first and second inputports of the second optical resonator, and a relative opticalphase-shifter optically coupled between said first and second opticalresonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift between said buswaveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; a digital signalprocessor for driving the modulator; and an optical fiber opticallycoupled to the output port of the second resonator and an input port ofan optical receiver.
 24. The optical communication system of claim 23,wherein at least one of said first and second optical resonatorscomprises one of a ring resonator, a distributed Bragg gratingresonator, and a photonic crystal resonator.
 25. An opticalcommunication system, the system comprising: a coherent light source forgenerating an input optical signal; an optical modulator comprising: afirst optical resonator having an input port for receiving the inputoptical signal, a through port, and a drop port, a second opticalresonator having a first input port optically coupled via the buswaveguide path to the through port of the first optical resonator, asecond input port optically coupled via the opposed waveguide path tothe drop port of the first optical resonator, and an output portoperable as a through port and a drop port for optical signals receivedrespectively at the first and second input ports of the second opticalresonator, and a relative optical phase-shifter optically coupledbetween said first and second optical resonators so to impart a relativeoptical phase shift between said bus waveguide path and said opposedwaveguide path; a digital signal processor for driving the modulator;and an optical fiber optically coupled to the output port of the secondresonator and an input port of an optical receiver, wherein each of thefirst and second optical resonators is a tunable optical resonator,biasable relative to an optical frequency of the input optical signaland driveable to variably shift a respective resonance thereof relativeto the optical frequency.
 26. An optical communication system, thesystem comprising: a coherent light source for generating an inputoptical signal; an optical modulator comprising: a first opticalresonator having an input port for receiving the input optical signal, athrough port, and a drop port, a second optical resonator having a firstinput port optically coupled via the bus waveguide path to the throughport of the first optical resonator, a second input port opticallycoupled via the opposed waveguide path to the drop port of the firstoptical resonator, and an output port operable as a through port and adrop port for optical signals received respectively at the first andsecond input ports of the second optical resonator, and a relativeoptical phase-shifter optically coupled between said first and secondoptical resonators so to impart a relative optical phase shift betweensaid bus waveguide path and said opposed waveguide path; a digitalsignal processor for driving the modulator; and an optical fiberoptically coupled to the output port of the second resonator and aninput port of an optical receiver, wherein the coherent light source istunable, generating a wavelength variable input optical signal, and atleast one of the first and second optical resonators is a tunableoptical resonator, biasable relative to a variable optical frequency ofthe input optical signal and drivable to variably shift a resonancethereof relative to the optical frequency.
 27. An IQ modulatorcomprising a first optical resonator comprising a first ring resonatorand a second optical resonator comprising a second ring resonator,wherein each of the first and second ring resonators is a tunable ringresonator, biasable relative to an optical frequency of the inputoptical signal and respectively driveable to variably shift a respectiveresonance thereof relative to the optical frequency, and havingrespective modulator outputs, and a 90-degree optical phase shifteroptically coupled at one of said respective modulator outputs so toimpart a relative 90-degree phase shift therebetween before saidrespective outputs are combined into an IQ modulated output.